BKU JAN09 PG41 23/12/08 09:59 Page 41
Industry Update
‘Nester Investors’ are
the way forward as
homeowners stay put
A
” n analysis of historical trends, market data and consumer behaviour
indicates that there is still plenty for the home improvement industry
to go at”, argues Nick Egdell, managing director, FairTrades. Speaking in
response to the almost daily tales of woe from UK plc and beyond, Egdell
believes that there are positives to be taken out of the current ‘credit
crunch’ and softening housing market.
“One of the outcomes of the current
economic uncertainty is that people
over the next year will obviously
choose to improve rather than move”,
he continues. “As the impetus in
house buying slows because of tight
mortgage lending, people’s thoughts the UK consumer to lose confidence
inevitably turn to how they can make to the extent that spending stops
their current property better”. completely, or, God forbid, the global
This is backed up by research from crisis tips us completely into a deep
the Halifax, which showed an increase recession – but the fact remains that a
in people planning home quiet housing sector does traditionally
improvements in the next year. Its result in an uplift in the home
research also indicated that the improvement one. With the exception
number of home improvers is growing of those involved with new build –
from just seven percent of who will find things tougher – the
respondents in 2006 to 25 percent of well-placed professional retail installer
respondents, with many of those can exploit the slowdown in housing
looking at extensions as their preferred sales and seek the opportunities
project. provided by the ‘won’t move, will
Egdell concludes: “No-one wants improve’ reaction to it”.
www.homeproinsurance.co.uk
German press set to retract claims
times for the whole kitchen sector and we have been
working hard to secure the long-term future of our
and apologise to Küppersbusch
people, our products, our brands and our business.
We believe plans are now in place to achieve this.’”
Küppersbusch is a wholly owned subsidiary of the
S
tories regarding the future of German the UK and in other parts of world – including
hugely successful Teka Industrial Group operating in
high-end built-in appliance specialist Germany. Sadly and inevitably this has led to the loss
38 countries supplying built-in appliances, sinks and
Küppersbusch, have been circulating since of some jobs in countries like Germany and the UK.
taps to 125 countries in 5 continents.
incorrect claims appeared in sections of the Unfortunately some of the stories that have
Ms Vanden Berghe commented further: “Whilst
German press. The articles in question stated appeared in the press have taken these job losses
like many of our business partners and competitors
that Küppersbusch was going out of business. completely out of context and made totally
we have experienced some effect of the down-turn
International Director, Anne Vanden Berghe unfounded and inaccurate statements. The
in Europe it is the Global spread and profitability of
commented: “Like many of our European publications in question have agreed to publish
our parent group and the hard work of our people
competitors we have been working hard to retractions and apologies.”
that will ensure the continued success of
restructure some areas of our business, both here in Ms Vanden Berghe added: “These are challenging
Küppersbusch and Teka.”
BKUJANUARY 2009 41
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